Now, I am sure this is a common problem. I am also sure you knowledgeable guys/gals have a plethora of links, so Ill try to provide as much info as possible so you can help me with a quick resolution.

I have about 25 Windows XP SP2 (Firewall disabled) workstations, and a single SBS2003 server on my network. Like I said FIREWALL DISABLED, on about 4 of these workstations I recieve "Windows does not respond. Permission or firewall problem?" under Scan Errors. I ran the WMI diagnostic tool on all effected workstations and everything was fine there. I ran some of the commands associated with WMI issues that are listed on this site, all remote systems replied with the expected reply.

One final thing, when I initially installed Spiceworks, it found EVERY windows machine and there was no "Windows does not respond. Permission or firewall problem?" error reported for any actual workstation. Nothing on my end has really changed, at least to my knowledge, and this problem has occurred BEFORE the latest spiceworks update, so whatever was the previous version before 1.5.9506. I might be missing something super simple, as that is usually the case.

Also, Does spiceworks not detect computer name changes? Ive changed some of the computer names and it seems it keeps the old name and adds the new one upon a scan.

32 Replies

I can't say that I have any good help for you on this; however, I am having the same problem where it will detect and scan a PC successfully but then go back later and give the Windows Did Not Respond error. I've tested these computers as well, and have tried to do a manual test where I change the authentication (to the one that I use for all PC's on that domain), and it will say 'test passed', but then have the same problem. If anyone has any insight on this problem, I'm sure we'd both appreciate it!

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I have a SBS2003R# network and 4 of our 14 computers (the server and three workstations) return this "Windows does not respond. Persmission or firewall problem?" error.
I am new to Spiceworks...any ideas on what I need to look for?

Just started to use this system and I'm jetting also this error: Windows does not respond. Permission or firewall problem?
Why nobody from the Spiceworks team trying to help here?
How can I solve this issue?
No FW's on the machines, I can ping them from the Spiceworks server and getting their replies.
Thanks for any help.

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Has anybody found a fix to this problem yet? This really started immediately after updating to 3.1.25624 from 3.0.???.

I too have a half dozen machines out of 100 constantly reporting this error. It seems to be the same machines and it is occuring after random network scans. I have performed all of the network scanning and firewall set up recommendations from SpiceWorks personnel, including using group policy in an active directory setting, and still have problems.

Please... Help... Anybody???

dcastellani wrote:

Now, I am sure this is a common problem. I am also sure you knowledgeable guys/gals have a plethora of links, so Ill try to provide as much info as possible so you can help me with a quick resolution.

I have about 25 Windows XP SP2 (Firewall disabled) workstations, and a single SBS2003 server on my network. Like I said FIREWALL DISABLED, on about 4 of these workstations I recieve "Windows does not respond. Permission or firewall problem?" under Scan Errors. I ran the WMI diagnostic tool on all effected workstations and everything was fine there. I ran some of the commands associated with WMI issues that are listed on this site, all remote systems replied with the expected reply.

One final thing, when I initially installed Spiceworks, it found EVERY windows machine and there was no "Windows does not respond. Permission or firewall problem?" error reported for any actual workstation. Nothing on my end has really changed, at least to my knowledge, and this problem has occurred BEFORE the latest spiceworks update, so whatever was the previous version before 1.5.9506. I might be missing something super simple, as that is usually the case.

Also, Does spiceworks not detect computer name changes? Ive changed some of the computer names and it seems it keeps the old name and adds the new one upon a scan.

I insalled FireFox 3.0.1. However, since my last posting, this issue has cropped up again. I have two machines that are persistantly reporting this error after random scans no matter what I try to do. Very confusing and frustrating. If I find an answer I'll post.

I found the solution to the problem I've been having and it was staring at me right in the face all this time!

I have the Windows firewall enabled on all of our machines and I also have a Group Policy Object for all of our workstations and servers used by Window Server Update Services (WSUS). In the group policy there is a setting for the firewall which enables remote admin traffic from specific machines and my SpiceWorks machine was not one of those machines listed.

The group policy setting is located in Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates/Network/Network Connections/Windows Firewall/Domain Profile and it is the Allow remote administration exception setting. I added my machine IP address and, viola, no more errors!

This worked for me and I hope it works for everybody else who is having this problem.

Of course, this information was available in the SpiceWorks How-Tos all the time. Guess I didn't research the right stuff. Here's the link to the How-To:

As we do not have a domain for our users, how is this setting changed on the local security settings?

I have walked through all the steps provided to resolve unknowns and do not see any problems, I have followed the suggestions above wihout a resolution. This is effecting the majority of our pcs, so I would like to find a resolution.

Well I have spent MANY hours on this problem. Just like the others in this post, one day it works, the next day POOF it doesnt. I've gone thru all the steps that I can find on SW Groups. Yesterday I was happy because I did a refresh inventory on a computer that was failing and it worked, but just to find that 5 minutes later the refresh failed again, of course stating "no open ports." I read this post today and thought "this has to be the fix" but no go. I've confirmed that the GP has been updated on the computer that has SW and on the computer that I'm using as a test.

It's ashame because this could be a great piece of software... if it worked. I hope the update later this week fixes this issue. I have tested many non client side network managment programs and they have all done the inventory ok but none have the interface and/or the information that I like, except SW.

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On the target machines, perform a manual virus scan. I had the same problem, and discovered that that machine had the parisite.b virus/worm. Spiceworks automatically sees that as a threat to the network, and locks down that port. This is why it is different number of machines for different folks. As for the one that took IE off and put firefox, sorry to say but, parisite.b or another has now spread over your entire network. it is simply seeing a ping at this point, due to the restart, but the computers will start to drop out like flies in a hurriciane.

Wish you the best on that... i would try the online scanner and remover from trendmicro. Just run it in safe mode w/ networking, and it can access all files to be able to remove them. Also, make sure you are logged in as Administrator. IT CANNOT BE YOURNAME w/Administator privilliges.

Long story short. It was McAffee 8.0i on the computer that I have SW installed on, which is running XP SP2. Makes no sense to me how it could scan some, even though very few, but not all. I even checked the workstations that it was scanning and they were up to date with their Antivirus. The computer I have SW installed on has been up and running for months with SW, but then one day no scan "Ports blocked". I have not been able to figure out where I can say to ePolicy "dont block this port".

So after uninstalling and running SW for a couple of days I have all my inventory back. I have set up the computer in ePolicy to not update and thus not installing the McAffee client. I know... no antivirus, bad Tech! But maybe one day I will get brave and re-install it... say after the Beta 3.5 is out.

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I had 2 workstations with WMI problems. one is running XP Pro w/SP3 & the other is running Vista ultimate. I followed the solution from Aarron9517 that was posted on 8/27/08 and the XP Pro machine is working now. Still have problem with Vista machine. Found that the services WMI Driver Extensions & Performance adapter are not listed in Vista. Anyone have any suggestions on a Vista machine?